Group Defends Papa Johns Through Social Networks

An upstart group has taken to social media to urge that Friday be a national appreciation day for the Papa John’s pizza chain, whose founder says he may have to cut employee hours because of Obamacare.

Rebooting America has a Facebook page supporting Papa John’s and its founder and CEO, John Schnatter, Fox News reports.

The page has about 1,000 supporters thus far.

“We just wanted to stand with Papa John’s because it is under attack,” Daniel Wetter, 16, who volunteered with the Mitt Romney presidential campaign, told Fox.

Wetter said fellow conservative activist Justen Charters developed the idea supporting the pizza chain, based in Louisville, Ky., on Friday.

Schnatter has been under fire since saying last week that some Papa John’s franchise owners may have to cut employee hours to cover the cost of implementing Obamacare. He estimated that the law would increase the company’s cost by as much as $8 million a year. Papa John's is now also the target of a $250 million lawsuit over spam text messaging.

The company, based in Louisville, Ky., was among several — including Olive Garden and Applebee’s — who have been under fire by liberal groups after making similar announcements.

“This is not just about Friday or one group,” Wetter told Fox. “I just had some pizza yesterday, and I’m going to have some more Friday.”

An upstart group has taken to social media to urge that Friday be a national appreciation day for the Papa John s pizza chain, whose founder says he may have to cut employee hours because of Obamacare.